Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:raise awareness about gender issues in developing nations

Welcome to

Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:enable young girls in rural India to receive an education

Welcome to

Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:empower Indian women to face, and conquer, gender barriers

Welcome to

Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:provide resources to rural communities to help them thrive

Welcome to

Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:raise awareness about gender issues in developing nations

Welcome to

Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:enable young girls in rural India to receive an education

Welcome to

Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:empower Indian women to face, and conquer, gender barriers

Welcome to

Suhanee Foundation

A nonprofit organization working to:provide resources to rural communities to help them thrive

Mission

At Suhanee Foundation, we are strong believers that every girl child has an immense potential to become a positive changemaker in her society. However, with news of female infanticides, honor killings, and violent rape cases, we cannot help but be dismayed at the knowledge that not everyone shares this belief. Childhood marriages, household labor, illegal slavery, and even sex work prevent our next generation of influential women from achieving their dreams. Our mission as an organization is to fight the countless human rights violations that occur against girls on a daily basis, and to equip them with the resources they need to succeed.

We believe that education is the most effective tool of empowerment. Our goal is to identify effective organizations working to provide free education to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, and mobilize our local communities to support these organizations as both advocates and fundraisers.

Suhanee Foundation’s secondary purpose is to serve as an example of recognizing one’s own privileges and working to bring those privileges to those less fortunate. We hope to inspire and ignite those around us to give back and make a difference. We know that together, with whatever contributions we can make (big or small), we can tackle down some of our world’s most pressing issues.

What We Do

As a US-based organization, Suhanee has a two-tiered approach to addressing the issue of girls education in rural India.

We believe that to truly address pressing issues in the developing world, we must inspire leaders of the developed world to see the importance of lending a helping hand. Exposure is key, and Suhanee works with community members in the United States to raise awareness about obstacles faced by women internationally and how we can work together to mitigate them. In the past, Suhanee has worked with schools and community organizations to engage audiences in understanding our mission and the value of joining the movement.

In 2012, Suhanee partnered with IIMPACT, an India-based nonprofit organization that currently educates 30,000 girls in the most socially and economically challenged communities of India. Together, Suhanee and IIMPACT established the “Suhanee Learning Center” in a rural village of Mewat, Haryana, where currently the female literacy rate is at just 4%. Money raised by fundraisers held in the United States is used to provide free education, textbooks, and resources for the underprivileged girls of the community. Currently, 34 students are enrolled at the center, and are well on the way of achieving their dreams!

In 2016, Suhanee adopted a year-long project of raising money for Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya, a residential blind girls school in Patna, India. Visit the Antarjyoti section of the website to learn more.

To learn more about these causes, click on the logos below:

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Suhanee Events

"Be Her Voice" - June 2013

"Be Her Voice" in the news!

Contestants of "What It Means To Be A Woman" Essay Contest receive certificates of recognition!

Ibanca Anand, Founder, does an interview about Suhanee on EBC Radio

"Women of Tomorrow" Event

"Women of Tomorrow" event flyer, 2012

"Women of Tomorrow" Event, 2012

Young dancers perform a traditional Kuchipudi routine at "Be Her Voice!"

Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya: Residential Blind Girls School

In the summer of 2016, Suhanee Foundation partnered with various committed individuals across North Carolina to raise funds for Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya, the only residential school located in Patna, Bihar for visually impaired girls. The school is run by Bihar Netraheen Parishad, a nonprofit which established the school in 1998 with the vision of providing free education to underprivileged girls from slum areas. Currently, the school houses and educates 110 girls in grades 1‐10, giving them access to not only academic but also extracurricular opportunities, including self‐defense training, music and dance lessons, and computer classes. While the school has created an undoubtedly positive impact in the lives of many, there are still 50 girls on the waitlist. Moreover, the funds are extremely limited, and the school is not able to expand their resources given their current budget. In partnership with several volunteer teams throughout the U.S. and India, Suhanee Foundation will help raise those necessary funds, which will in turn allow Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya to build improved facilities, start innovative projects, and invest for a sustainable future.

Over the past few months, your support and donations have allowed us to make various lasting impacts on the students at Antarjyoti. These include:

the construction of a Braille library

the construction of a kitchen on the third floor

funding for travel to singing and dance competitions

salaries for the teachers and warden who were previously paid $40/month

establishing an endowment for long-term self-sustainability

There are several projects under way, including:

an expanding of the curriculum to 11th and 12th grade (currently, the girls go to a blind school in Delhi after 10th grade)

a partnership between Antarjyoti and Raleigh-based Morehead School for the Blind for a vocational training program

more diverse and consistent extracurricular offerings

an entrepreneurship fund for the students to turn their handicraft skills into a business

For more details about the fundraising campaign, including specifics on the financial goals, check out the official brochure by clicking here.

I am Anita Kumari, a 2nd grade student of Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya. I joined Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya in 2013. I was brought here by my mother and grandmother. I am one of five daughters. My mother is a stay-at-home mom and my father is an itinerant vendor. I was born blind and when my parents and other family members first saw me, they contemplated putting an end to my life. When I was a little older and could understand the world around me, I often heard my father telling her mother to keep me away from his sight, saying “to look upon her is to bring bad luck to my day.” My uncle advised my parents to abandon me in some faraway place or dump me in some orphanage so the rest of the family could avoid having to look at me. It was my grandmother who heard of Antarjyoti and brought me here. I am now a Grade 2 student. The first few days were hard and I was crying constantly. I missed the familiar; I missed my family. Gradually, though, I began to mingle with the other children. Now, I can take part in all activities organized at Antarjyoti, be it sports, music, or studies. However, I like my books the best. I want to become a teacher and make my parents proud. I want to be independent and make a name for herself. That is my goal, that is my dream.

— Anita Kumar, 2nd Grade Student of Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya

To help out with the Antarjyoti Fundraising Campaign, you may do any of the following:

Learn more by contacting Ibanca Anand at (732)910-8030 or Anita Punj at (919)225-2660 or apunj2002@yahoo.com.

Learning Center

The Suhanee Learning Center, in partnership with IIMPACT, was established in 2012 in a rural village of Mewat, Haryana called “Kharkhadi II.” The rural population of this village faces a variety of daily challenges, including water scarcity, poverty, illiteracy, low agricultural yields, and lack of livelihood opportunities. Their primary source of income is agriculture, followed by animal husbandry. In such an environment, girls are rarely sent to school and, rather, are expected to perform household duties or earn money for their families.

With nearby regions rapidly developing (such as Gurgaon), however, education and empowerment is becoming more and more necessary for the rural population. Currently, many villagers in Mewat are losing their land to outside forces such as foreign investors. With plans for new infrastructural changes (paved roads; engineering schools; medical schools) well under way, the current inhabitants are threatened by the possibility of marginalization. To counter this, Suhanee aims to use girl education as a powerful intervention to uplift the community and equip them with the skills and resources to reap the benefits of the vast development set to take place.

The students all loved learning, and if we continue to carry out this work, not only will the lives of the girls drastically change, but also the essence of the whole village.

— Ananya Indwar, High School Volunteer at Suhanee Learning Center

It is an absolute honor to have been given the opportunity and privilege to meet these brave girls. It is humbling to realize the struggle they have put up against society and kin alike for a chance to do more in life than clean utensils.

— Ananya Gupta, High School Volunteer at Suhanee Learning Center

My name is Anjun. I am 11 years old. I have 4 sisters and 4 brothers. My father is a mason. I and my three sisters attend the center with interest. I want to become a teacher.

— Anjun, Student at Suhanee Learning Center

Our teachers teach very well. I will become a teacher too. Studies are really good for all of us.

— Manisha, Student at Suhanee Learning Center

I study at the center and play here too. I want to become a doctor so I can cure people.

— Manju, Student at Suhanee Learning Center

Our Team

Click on the pictures below to learn more about our team.

Ibanca Anand
Founder, President

Ibanca Anand Founder, President

Ibanca is a student at Duke University, where she is double-majoring in Economics and Literature and pursuing a Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. She began Suhanee Foundation in 2010 (named after her younger sister), after a family trip to India. During the trip, she became friends with Poonam, the maid working in her grandparents’ home. She was distressed after seeing how Poonam and so many girls like her have never been inside a classroom, and with the help of her family, friends, and school administrators, began the Foundation in hopes of creating lasting change.

Mukesh Anand
Treasurer

Mukesh AnandTreasurer

Mukesh received his MBA from Center of Management Development in New Delhi, India and runs a marketing company called JMD Marketing. He has been a part of Suhanee Foundation since the first day, assisting with budget planning and account managing. Mukesh has always been passionate about giving back to his community.

Anita Punj
Board Member

Anita PunjBoard Member

Anita Punj, MBA, PMP, has lived in North Carolina for over 18 years, where she has worked with non-profit organizations like Hum Sub and AID in various capacities. She like to volunteer and mentor children at her spare time to enhance youth leadership skills, improve communications, management skills, and to teach them the importance of philanthropic involvement in the community. She currently works at Duke on the institution’s development initiatives.

Vandana Dake,
Board Member

Vandana DakeBoard Member

Vandana Dake is a respected architect and entrepreneur in the Durham community. She leads Alliance Architecture and is the mastermind behind numerous award-winning design projects both locally and internationally. Vandana is heavily involved in the Durham Rotary Club, where she was named Rotarian-of-the-Year in 2012 and served as the chapter’s President from 2014-15.

Dr. Vinod Prasad, MD
Board Member

Dr. Vinod Prasad, MDBoard Member

Vinod K. Prasad, MD, MBBS is a Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist who sees patients at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center. He also serves as a Professor of Pediatrics at the Duke Medical School. Dr. Prasad has co-authored numerous conference papers and journal articles, and is a renowned professional in his field.

Durham Judge Craig Brown,
Advisor

Durham Judge Craig BrownAdvisor

Honorary Judge Craig Brown is the retired Durham County district court judge and an involved member of the Durham Lions Club. Judge Brown is drawn to the Suhanee team for its efforts on fundraising for a blind girls school. Due to a chronic illness, Judge Brown has been living with blindness himself for many years. He is the author of a book, “Blind Justice,” in which he calls for reform in the justice system from a very personal perspective.

Dr. Inderdeep Chatrath, PhD
Advisor

Dr. Inderdeep Chatrath, PhDAdvisor

Dr. Inderdeep Chatrath serves as the Assistant Vice President for Duke University’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Programs within the Office for Institutional Equity. Her work involves ensuring that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are not excluded or discriminated against during the admissions process. Dr. Chatrath is also involved in various local fundraising initiatives.

Varun Prasad
Committee Member

Varun PrasadCommittee Member

Varun is a freshman at Duke University studying Economics & Engineering. Varun helps plan and conduct on-campus fundraising initiatives for Suhanee Foundation. He has had experience in social entrepreneurship as early as high school, where he worked with fellow classmates on a scholarship fund to help deserving, lower-income students attend college.

Get Involved

DONATE

Suhanee wouldn’t be functional without the financial support of our followers! Donate here using a credit, debit, or PayPal account.

If you would prefer to make a donation via check, please make it payable to “Suhanee Foundation.” Donations may be mailed to: 10030 Green Level Church Road Ste. 802 Box #110, Cary, NC 27519.

GET UPDATES

Sign up for our mailing list here to receive updates on Suhanee events and important news.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

BECOME AN ADVOCATE

Help us address the challenges facing girls education by becoming an advocate in your community. You can host events like benefit concerts and talent shows, or you can tell your friends and family about Suhanee. Spread the word and join the movement! Contact us for promotional materials and advice and we will be sure to help you out.

Press Releases

Be Her Voice

Suhanee’s event, “Be Her Voice,” which was held on June 13, 2013, was featured in the Sentinel. Read the full article here.

Early Days of Suhanee

Suhanee in its initial stages featured in the Star Ledger! Read the full article here.

Garden State Woman Education Foundation

Suhanee featured on the website of the Garden State Woman Education Foundation. Read the full article here.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments or would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you! Do not hesitate to reach out via any of the below methods: